g to climb, Ford?" was his manner of exploding his
bomb. "Bald pinnacle? I can climb that hill myself."

"I don't know as I'm going to climb any hills at all," Ford said
indulgently, accepting another helping of potato salad from Mrs. Kate.

"You told dad before he went to gran'ma's house you was going to climb a
big, long hill, and he was more sure than sensible." He giggled and
showed where two front teeth were missing from among their fellows. "Dad
told him he'd make it, but he'd have to dig in his toes and hang on by
his eye-winkers," he added to the two women. "Gee! I'd like to see Ford
hang onto a hill by his eye-winkers. Jo could do it--she's got winkers
six feet long."

Miss Josephine had been looking at Ford's face going red, as
enlightenment came to him, but when she caught a quick glance leveled
at her lashes, she drooped them immediately so that they almost touched
her cheeks. Bud gave a squeal and pointed to her with his fork.

"Jo's blushing! I guess she's ashamed because she's got such long
winkers, and Ford keeps looking at 'em all the time. Why don't you shave
'em off with dad's razor? Then Ford would like you, maybe. He don't now.
He told dad--"

"Robert Chester Mason, do you want me to get the hairbrush?" This, it
need not be explained, from Mrs. Kate, in a voice that portended grave
disaster.

"I guess we can get along without it, mamma," Buddy answered her, with
an ingratiating smile. Even in the first seven years of one's life, one
learns the elementary principles of diplomacy. He did not retire from
the conversation, but he prudently changed the subject to what he
considered a more pleasant channel.

"Dick likes you anyway, Jo," he informed her soothingly. "He likes you,
winkers and all. I can tell, all right. When you go out for a ride he
gives me nickels if I tell him where--"

"Robert Ches--"

"Oh, all right." Buddy's tone was wearily tolerant. "A man never knows
what to talk about to women, anyway. I'd hate to be married to
'em--wouldn't you, Ford?"

"A little boy like you--" began his mother, somewhat pinker of cheeks
than usual.

"I guess I'm pretty near a man, now." He turned his eyes to Ford,
consciously ignoring the feminine members of his family. "If I had a
wife," he stated calmly, "I'd snub her up to a post and then I'd talk to
her about anything I damn pleased!"

Mrs. Kate rose up then in all the terrifying dignity of outraged
motherhood, grasped Buddy by the wrist, an